3 Years Ago, Today

September 29, 2016

3 years ago today.

3 years ago today I got in my car and headed across the Bay Bridge to Portland. I remember looking in my rearview mirror and thinking,"What am I doing? What am I doing?!" I remember making sure I took note of what the city looked like because I didn't know when I would be back. I remember crying until I reached Mt. Shasta only because I had to stop to sleep. I remember telling myself,"This is good for you. This is your big chance. You can do this. It's going to be okay." Self pep talk was at an all time high for me. I'd left everything I'd worked so hard to achieve and everything that I'd loved so dearly, in my rear view.

I left a lot behind. I left my sense of adventure behind. I left my ability to be alone behind. I left all sense of solo functioning security behind. I left a huge part of who I had worked so hard to become, behind. I knew I had to make an even bigger sacrifice than before, just to achieve my personal career goals.

I remember driving into Portland on September 29, 2012 and hitting rain the moment I drove into the city limits. I thought,"This is okay. I like the rain!"

Fast forward to 3 years later.

I've overcome a lot to be where I am today. I entered into, and survived two years, under someone who belittled me on a daily basis and made me feel like I was worth nothing in the work place. I vowed to myself that I wouldn't give up, that I'd come to Portland for a reason. There were countless times I would leave work to end up in my car, crying and feeling defeated to the point of giving up. But I hung in there and made sure to not let this guy get the best of me, ever. It wasn't until my coworkers started rallying around me and letting me know how valued I really was, that I started believing in myself as well as believing,"It's not me-- it's him." Finally, karma came full circle.

In 2015, the universe gave me the opportunity to move into a different space -- and being the person that I am, I took it. I told myself,"If you don't get this new role then it's a sign that you need to move out of this space and rethink your career path." Low and behold, I got the job, and felt a huge weight being lifted off of my shoulders.

Almost one year into my new role, I feel more valued as a coworker (and human) than I ever have before. I know my role in the workplace and I fully believe in what I'm doing. I started with SOREL as an outsider knowing what I would change and make different if I ever worked on the brand.

This has been the first project (see video below) that I was able to see through, front to back, and I can't help but get choked up every time I watch it. I came in to SOREL with a vision, and with the help of my team and my husband, made my vision a reality. I've never come this close to having my vision become an actual reality and I can't think of a better way to celebrate how far I've come.

I truly believe that if you don't stop and relive where you came from, you can't move forward. I'm constantly thinking about how I can make my life, job, and surroundings a better place by remembering what I've overcome and where I've come from.

"A gem is not polished without rubbing, nor a man perfected without trials."